I would love to get my sensitemp to work.

[Drewbiz]

I also have a question. about the sensitemp.

Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum. I just found it. I have been trying to find more info on my 40" GE P7. Mine has the knobs and no buttons. I think it is from the early 70s. It is Avocado colored and my wife hates it and wants to get rid of it. I love it and want to repair the little things that are wrong and get another 40 + years out of it. I have used the sensitemp burner because the other 8" burner stopped working. I just got a replacement 8" burner to fix that. The sensitemp burner works well still, but sometimes it gets to temperature and cuts off, but doesn't come back on. could that be an issue with the sensor or the type of cookware? Also, I plan on replacing the 8" burner and cleaning the area under the top, but I am having trouble getting the top off. Is there a latch or magic button?

Drew

 

[combo52]

SenceAtemp burner issues

Hi Drew, it is important that the cookware be flat and most importantly the center of the pan must be in good contact with the sensor for proper operation.

Keep in mind when cooking on these Calrod style surface elements, and you are using high heat, THE ELEMENT SHOULD NEVER GLOW RED HOT, if it does you need better cookware, this is true of any electric range with conventional elements.

Drew it is fairly difficult to remove the cook-top on your range, it is usually best to just clean through the burner openings.

 

[danemodsandy]

Drew:

John combo52 is The Expert here when it comes to GE range repair - he knows stuff about GE ranges that GE has forgotten.

So, if you see advice from him, he's someone who knows what he's talking about.

 

[norgeway]

GE Recommended

Medium weight aluminum cookware for best operation of the Sensi Temp, they stated in the owners manual to use a lower than normal temperature for other materials..ie, stainless or iron.Some people are afraid of aluminum these days, but it really does respond quickest to heat changes.

 

[danemodsandy]

Oh, and Drew:

The full GE instruction manual for Sensi-Temp burners is available from Automaticwasher.org's "sister" site, Automatic Ephemera. It gives full instructions and cookware recommendations. It is available for paid download, at only $1.99. The download comes to you in PDF (Adobe Reader) format, in the most amazingly high-quality scans you ever saw. Automatic Ephemera accepts PayPal.

The link to the Sensi-Temp instruction book is:

http://www.automatice.org/cgi-bin/index.cgi?showdoc~872~General Electric~

 

[Drewbiz]

Thanks for the good info!

Thank you all for the good info. I am going to order the sensi temp manual and the owners manual they have. This forum is very helpful.

 

[zinniz]

It worked!!!

My new sensor arrived in the mail today! It only took a few minutes to install and I have a working burner!! I tested it on a medium boil and I can not wait to "Get to know" my sensitemp better. I am kicking myself for listening to the repair guy who said nothing could be done.

You guys are amazing! I am ever so thankful.

Here's my new sensor in action, burning off years of gunk as it heats up some water.

 

[danemodsandy]

You GO, Carrie!

I am so glad to hear - and see - that your range is looking and working great, ready for a few more decades of culinary adventures.

In case you do not have it, the GE Sensi-Temp instruction manual is a must, because Sensi-Temp doesn't work exactly like many people think it does. A lot of people try to use it strictly with the temperature settings, when in fact you need to use the "Boil" settings when cooking with liquids. And it never needs to be cranked up red-hot, as John combo52 mentions above.

Again, the Sensi-Temp guide can be downloaded from Automatic Ephemera for only $1.99. Robert, the owner of this site, runs AE as well. A link directly to the page for the Sensi-Temp guide is below.

Again, congratulations on your first vintage appliance "save," and I am willing to bet there are more in your future! Glad we could help.

http://www.automatice.org/cgi-bin/index.cgi?showdoc~872~General Electric~

 

[robinsondm]

Way to go, Carrie!

Congratulations on the successful repair! Where there's a will, there's a way, especially with this forum here to help. Have fun using your Sensi-Temp burner!

 

Dean

 

[zinniz]

Sensi-Temp Guide

Sandy,

Thanks for the link! I got it downloaded and love the anthropomorphic illustrations in it. I learned a lot from the booklet. It's definitely a must-have for anyone with one of these burners.

Carrie.

 

[danemodsandy]

Carrie:

Glad you like the Sensi-Temp guide! The cookware drawings in the book are of a Wear-Ever line of cookware called Hallite, which turns up a lot in thrift stores and on eBay. I keep meaning to nab a couple of pieces and see if it's any better on the Sensi-Temp than my aluminum-clad Farberware.

Not that anyone's going to pry me away from my Farberware, you understand....

 

[sarahperdue]

Hi

Hi Carrie,

I'm Sarah. I love seeing your range and have enjoyed this discussion about the Sensi-Temp burner. I have a Hotpoint with Hotpoint's version of the Sensi-Temp and hope to take on fixing it sometime in the not so distant future. I love your analog clocks. Mine has the mechanical digital clock, but it was a major upgrade from the 30" Kenmore with the rusted through oven liner, so I bought it especially since the large oven is self cleaning.

Glad you found AW. I agree with Sandy, once you successfully repair an old appliance, it is hard to resist taking on another.

Sarah

 

[zinniz]

Speaking of Hotpoint...

Hi Sarah,

Good luck with fixing your Hotpoint! It's funny that you mention you have the Hotpoint version. When I was working on my stove, I noticed that the part box had both brands listed on it, and I had wondered if they existed on Hotpoint ranges too.

Carrie.

 

[Julie]

Just got mine working....

I love, love, love it! I have a gorgeous 1969 model. I had to run new electric service for it, as I had hookups for a propane oven. So I just got all that done, and after reading here, realized my sensi temp sensor is also not working. Everything else does. I have the original griddle and it is in almost perfect condition. I don't have the probe, sad face, but this range is immaculate, inside and out. Even the back is clean, without built up grease, etc. I feel VERY lucky to have come across it.

Some things I need are the drip pans, sensor and probe. If anyone has these, I would be eternally grateful! If no sensor is available, I would love to know how I can make that burner function without one. Someone tried replacing the pans, but the coils don't fit on top of them, since they aren't notched. I haven't been able to find the correct item replacement for them. I am so glad I found this forum and thread!

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[danemodsandy]

Julie:

Welcome to AW.org.

John combo52 is the GE expert around here, so I'll let him advise you on the repairs. Your range is well worth saving. It's from around 1972, as can be seen from the rotary controls and the convenience outlets on the control panel.

Nice range!

 

[Julie]

Danemodsandy

Yes, it is awesome! It is a 1969 model, I looked it up. It also has the electrical outlets. I will try to patiently wait on John. Thanks for your response!

 

[craigl]

I also have a 40" GE range with a sensitemp burner that is not working. GE no longer seems to sell the parts but I understand one of the members here may have parts available? I would be interested in pricing. The range is a 1978 model (jcp68ow1wh)

It does not seem to matter what position the power saver switch is in, there is a slight amount of heat from the burner if you turn on the switch, but never gets hot. I hear a low hum when the burner is on, but no vibration.

 

[sel8207]

sensi temp repair

I also have the situation where the sense temp burner starts to get warm for a few seconds, then shuts off. I also hear a slight buzzing or humming noise coming from the responder unit (that's the temp setting control on the dash of the stove). Mine is the older ten ohm sensor model. The sensor is located in the middle of the burner. I actually don't think anything is wrong with that, but there is also a relay inside the responder unit which I believe could be causing the problem. Newer units were, I believe, upgraded to a 17 ohm sensor along with other changes. A replacement responder unit might still be available. Mine is not, it's from a 1961 stove, but there is surely somebody here who can help you with your stove. The only information I could ever find was from a G.E technical talk manual, which said something to the effect that when they checked the parts that were removed, the sensor turned out to be fine, and that it was the responder that needed to be replaced. Other members here have stated that they believe it's usually the sensor that's the cause of the problem. There is a check out sequence to troubleshooting these units, but I don't have it available to post right now. Hopefully, somebody with more electrical experience than me will give you some information and assist you. Good luck. Les

 

[norgeway]

Sensi Temp

Was a great feature.....WHEN it worked, unfortunately I have never seen one that did work, as many old stoves as I have had down thru the years, only the ones that were on gas ranges worked, and they were great.

 

[hshanks]

Sensi-Temp

I am glad to have found this forum.

We have a GE sensi-temp range in excellent condition and everything works except the sensi-temp burner. We used it to bottle grape juice this last week-end.

Our unit appears to have been manufactured in January 1970 - or January 1954 based on model and serial numbers and using the GE Date Decoder. I am guessing earlier than 1970 because pictures above for a 1969 model show dial controls. Our unit has pushbutton controls for all of the burners but with a dial temperature control for the sensi-temp burner. (I graduated from high school in 1969 and I am pretty sure I remember having the unit for some years before that.)

Could this unit really have been made in 1954?

Model # J485A1WH
Serial # AL00079

Unfortunately I am not able to provide a picture at this time because the unit is in another location.

Visually it appears that the sensor unit is damaged. Are replacement sensors still available through John? Nothing appears to be available on eBay now.

This thread seems to have gone "cold" with the most recent entry before mine almost exactly one year ago.

I would appreciate any help that could be provided to fix the sensi-temp burner on this awesome range.